The BCCI, on Saturday, revealed the 16-man team India squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2018, and the name of Suresh Raina is nowhere to be seen.
Kohli, Raina to miss Asia Cup 2018
Meanwhile, the selectors have decided to rest regular captain, Virat Kohli to manage his workload. Earlier, he also injured himself in the second Test match against England; thus the selectors will want him fresh ahead of the Australia tour later this year. However, Suresh Raina is the other exclusion from the squad owing to his poor performance in the ODI series against England.
The southpaw replaced Ambati Rayudu in the ODI squad for the first time since December 2015 after the latter failed the yo-yo test.
Now, both Manish Pandey and Ambati Rayudu are back in the side after their phenomenal performance in the quadrangular series. However, with the exclusion of Raina, dark clouds loom over his ODI career.
Raina struggled to put good scores in the limited-overs series against England, as India lost the ODI series by 2-1 margin. He has the highest score of 46 runs, however, failed in the other games. With age against him, it will be tough for Raina to get back to the ODI squad again.
An attacking left-hander, Suresh Raina played 226 ODI matches for India scoring 5615 runs at an average of 35.31. His career-best score was 116 not out. He is also an outstanding player on the field.
Here is how the Twitter reacted after Suresh Raina missed the 16-member India squad from the Asia Cup 2018:
https://twitter.com/iTheRider1/status/1035795549264535553
Good to see kedar is back
But no raina ???— Jitzmsdian03 (@jitzvijan03) September 1, 2018
No @ImRaina for Asia cup ….??? we are feeling so sad….. @ImRaina pls come to India team… We all waiting world cup 2019….to see u there…
????— Hariharasudhan Rajalingam (@officialSuDhA) September 1, 2018
Virat Rested And Rohit Captain It's Ok
Rayudu Selected It's Ok
But Why Raina Drop From Squad and Manish Select
Why Why— Niranjan BiswalDhoni (@niradhoni) September 1, 2018
This hurts more than a break up… Probably the saddest thing today .. it's ok we all believe in you @ImRaina ? .. make a comeback
— KUNAL.?? (@imKPL48) September 1, 2018
@ImRaina kaha gaya
Nahi dekhna match ab— @Fardeen03?? (@Fardeen_003) September 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/iTheRider1/status/1035795466129170432
We want @ImRaina in squad
— Arun RAINA (@arunAK1505) September 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/Im_rainafann/status/1035796224366993408
We Miss you @ImRaina ????
Sadness at its Peak— Vimal Raina (@ImVimalRaina3) September 1, 2018
No place for Raina ?
— mithun (@Joseph88257) September 1, 2018
we want @ImRaina
— Rahulraja@ (@Rahulrat1412) September 1, 2018
sir 100% Raina is better then rayudu,pandey , kedar, …sure these three guys are definitly fail in asip cup…
— suresh uppu (@suresh_uppu) September 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/WebbO27165851/status/1035798367605911553
https://twitter.com/i_am_jaypaul/status/1035797845129887744
Dear Team Management,@BCCI @RaviShastriOfc @ImRo45
Why U Drop @ImRaina & Selected @im_manishpandey
It's Wrost Selection By Selection Committee@cricketaakash Sir
Is This Best Team For Asia Cup????— Niranjan BiswalDhoni (@niradhoni) September 1, 2018